Xi Jinping, the Chinese president-in-waiting, mysteriously disappeared for two weeks because of a back injury suffered while swimming, according to Tung Chee Hwa, the former Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

“He hurt himself in sport and he’s now recovered and he’s now back at work,” Tung said in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour Tuesday.

Tung says he considered the media coverage to be mere speculation.

“In China the health of senior leaders is not a public issue. I suppose as time goes on, as China becomes more and more open and is also a part of the world, all these things will eventually change,” Tung said.

Tung became the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong after the handover of control to China from the U.K. He now serves as chairman of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and has a close relationship with the highest levels of Chinese leadership.

Amanpour asked Tung if Xi would still be the next leader of China, as expected.

“I have no doubt whatsoever,” Tung said, adding that he believes the leadership contest will happen sometime in October.

Tung also said that current Chinese President Hu Jintao will most likely maintain leadership of the military after Xi becomes president.

“I’m not privy to this information - based on past practice he will retain the position for some time.’

Inside China this week, as the two countries face off over disputed islands in the East China Sea, protests continue to flare on today’s 81st anniversary of Japan's invasion of China.

Tung told Amanpour that the United States has an important role to help resolve the issue, saying he believes the United States has always been, and continues to be, a Pacific power.

“I think a nudge toward Japan by America would help a great deal. It is important. I hope cooler heads will prevail…. The Chinese leadership is saying very clearly, this has got to stop, come back to the table and see how we can work it through.”

Amanpour pushed Tung on whether he believed the issue would be resolved without further escalation, but Tung was reluctant to answer.

I guess I don't like the host. Her face, her tone, everything. I appreciate her strong personality, but she just sounds so harsh and rude! Please remember, you were doing a international news, not interrogating a prisoner. For the "back" problem, they only thing I can say is "LOL". Are you kidding? Or just fooling around? So many U.S citizens don't even get a job. They are worring about their life, their children's education, their parents' health care. When these emergency problems haven't solved yet, you're concerning about why did one of the Chinese leaders have a back injured? I mean it's a injury. People do sick, injured during the life time. Some people just think too much.

i think the host had did some homework before interview, because there were too much rumor of the disappearence of the VP China, etc, secret murder,i think this is why she ask about the official "back injury" theory

You can tell us Americans whatever you want, when we're hell bent on believing our own made up theories – nothing will change that! After all, our country was founded on conspiracy theories, we have the most UFO and paranormal sightings in the world, and we were the ones who invented the aluminum foil thought blocker hat! TAKE THAT!

we never believe communists sorry. Jim is an escapee from guantanimo. don't believe him. He's a Mandarin orange.

September 19, 2012 at 4:47 pm |

XiJinping

The chinese leadership isn't used to explain about petty things as sport injuries, as politicians have a private life also, what does the things politicians do in private concernes the public? Now I know why China has censorship over the news, so people won't have change to discuss over dumb things and rally up about it.

Xi Jingping probably didn't even knew what was going on himself, probably went to the doctor, got a scan,and got the results a week later, how can he announce what was wrong when he wasn't sure himself? People accuse him not letting the public know beforehand, well now you know, and so what? Did the world became a better place?

I've injured myself swimming. You can end up pulling out your back, etc. when doing breast strokes, etc. Maybe your kind of swimming is floating around like a piece of turd in a pool but please dont apply that to every swimmer.

what an absurd statement. calling someone a turd? grow up. If all you can do is call people names and be rude, please sit on the sidelines. thank you in advance for just being quiet.

September 19, 2012 at 3:11 pm |

cmmrc

The host had did some homework before interview, rumor work. As to swimming injury, anything is possible, is skyscraper fall at free fall speed and cell-phone call made on the airplane on the the day possible?

Hello, Neat post. There's an issue with your website in web explorer, may test this? IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a huge component to folks will pass over your magnificent writing due to this problem.

Post a comment

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.